As New Mexicans prepare to cast their ballots for our next governor, the choice before us represents a fundamental divergence in the vision for our state’s future. Do we want pragmatic, proven local leadership that seeks to uplift every corner of New Mexico, or do we want to import top-down mandates that threaten our state’s economic future? After careful consideration of the candidates, their records, and their visions for our state, we proudly endorse Gregg Hull for Governor of New Mexico.
When evaluating Hull’s candidacy, we only need to look at his tenure as Mayor of Rio Rancho. Under his leadership, the “City of Vision” has experienced robust development, transforming into an economic powerhouse and a model for effective municipal governance. Hull understands what it takes to build a community, attract business, and manage growth responsibly.
He is bringing that same pro-growth mindset to his gubernatorial campaign, highlighted by his bold proposal to repeal the state income tax. In a time of prolonged inflation and rising costs of living, repealing the income tax is a practical, direct way to put more of our hard-earned money back into the pockets of New Mexicans. Rather than funneling more revenue into a bloated state bureaucracy, Hull trusts the people of New Mexico to spend, save, and invest their own money.
Furthermore, Hull recognizes that New Mexico is more than just the Albuquerque and Santa Fe metropolitan areas. For too long, the needs of our rural communities have been sidelined by the interests of urban centers. Hull has demonstrated a genuine willingness to bridge the gap between rural and urban New Mexico, ensuring that agricultural, energy-producing, and frontier communities have a voice in Santa Fe.
In stark contrast, his opponent, Deb Haaland, has recently shown a concerning lack of accountability to the voters of this state by skipping the recent gubernatorial debate on KOB-TV—the first time we will not see a televised debate in decades. If a candidate is unwilling to stand on a stage, face tough questions, and defend their record before the public, how can we expect them to be transparent and accessible as governor?
When we do examine Haaland’s record, we find a distinct lack of long-term executive experience at the local or state level. Her legislative career consists of just a single, two-year term as a congresswoman, followed by four years as the Secretary of the Interior in Washington, D.C.
During her time at the Department of the Interior, Haaland championed federal policies that actively harmed the very communities she claimed to represent. Her decisions regarding Chaco Canyon placed an undue regulatory burden on the Navajo Nation, effectively stripping many families within the Diné Nation of the essential mineral royalties they rely on to survive and provide for their families. It was a clear example of prioritizing out-of-state environmental lobbying over the immediate livelihoods of indigenous New Mexicans.
This disconnect is further illustrated by her unrealistic climate goals, specifically the push for a carbon-zero economy by 2050. While environmental stewardship is important to all of us, Haaland’s carbon-zero timeline is simply unfeasible. Attempting to continue forcing such an aggressive transition would place devastating, long-term impacts on New Mexico’s economic well-being, crippling an energy sector that funds our schools, our infrastructure, and our state budget.
Furthermore, Haaland has demonstrated a troubling lack of vision and policy prioritization when it comes to securing our southern border. When pressed by KRQE’s Jessica Garate regarding the uncertainty surrounding House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, Haaland offered a remarkably dismissive response. Rather than addressing substantive concerns about the bill’s constitutionality, she simply stated that it is the law and would be “upheld.” This response ignores the serious, lingering constitutional questions surrounding HB 9—legal uncertainties and operational challenges that the next governor will inevitably inherit and must be prepared to navigate. We deserve a leader who will proactively address border security and the complexities of immigration policy, not one who brushes off legitimate journalistic scrutiny.
New Mexico cannot afford another four years of an executive branch who prioritizes outside agendas over the realities of our local communities. We need a governor who understands local governance, respects the taxpayer, shows up, and is committed to delivering prosperity across the entire state. Gregg Hull has the proven experience and the right priorities to move us forward. We urge you to vote for Gregg Hull for governor.
